Ever since H.G. Wells wrote “War of the Worlds” in the 19th century, humans have been fascinated by the prospect of battling with extraterrestrials.

Film takes on man vs. alien showdown

“Battle: Los Angeles” is the latest action sci-fi movie that pits man against alien in the fight for planet earth. Showing the alien invasion through the eyes of a small marine unit, the movie tries to avoid the clichés of previous alien action extravaganzas. It’s more “Black Hawk Down” than “Mars Attacks!”

Still, the movie does not really break any new ground. Marines versus aliens is now an established sub-genre of science fiction. Interestingly, the story closely follows the formula for classic war movies, choosing to stick with a small group of combatants while getting to know each of the characters very personally.

Film develops characters well

From the lowliest 17-year-old recruit to the battle-hardened “20 year man,” we get a good sense of the platoon’s makeup. Aaron Eckhart is solid in the lead role as staff sergeant Michael Nantz. He’s a gritty Iraq veteran with a troubled past and a box full of medals who has just signed his walking papers. On the first day of his retirement, the news announces a freak meteor shower, and he is called back to the Marines on an emergency mission to evacuate civilians from Santa Monica. The Marines soon find out that those meteors are indeed visitors from another world, and they definitely do not come in peace.

Plot predictable, but characters believable

The special effects are good enough — the aliens look like the prawns from “District 9,” with cool armor. The film never explains where the aliens come from, only that they want to take our water. They arrive outside every major city in the world, and commence killing every human in sight. After a quick introduction of all the characters, the action begins and the plot takes a very predictable path. It will be very familiar to anyone who’s watched a movie about combat or aliens. Perhaps that’s where the film is unique, seamlessly combining traditional elements from two timeless genres. Nevertheless, there’s nothing too interesting about the plot itself, or even the action. The film’s strength is found in the believability of the characters.

The mission quickly turns from civilian extraction to an all-out battle for survival as the Marines try to define exactly what force they are dealing with. One of the more graphic scenes involves the sci-fi staple of alien autopsy –– inspecting inside the body of a captured invader to find its weak spot. Other than that, the movie doesn’t get too bloody, though there is a lot of intense fighting.

Action scenes channel video game genre

There are very few slow spots in between the relentless fire fights — it seems the Marines never run out of ammunition. Many of the scenarios that play out are ripped right out of the most popular video game shooters. They continue fighting from rooftops, armored vehicles, helicopters and even an abandoned bus. Predictably, this small platoon of Marines discover they are the only hope for humanity in the battle of Los Angeles, and seek to discover the way to kill the alien command center in an attempt to slow the invasion. The movie’s dramatic conclusion will leave the audience anxious to see more.

Film conventional but still entertaining

Ultimately, “Battle: Los Angeles” does not disappoint as a conventional sci-fi action flick. Indeed, its attempt to establish realism is commendable. The use of shaky camera and news footage contributes to the film’s war zone feel. Convincing acting, combined with adequate dialogue and a straightforward plot, serve the film well to tell an inspiring story of courage in the face of annihilation. “Battle: Los Angeles” may be corny, but it sure is entertaining.